Resilient wheel.



C. VAN NUORT & F. VISSER.

RESILIENT WHEEL.

APPLICATION FILED IIILY Io. 1917.

1,299,876. Patented Apr. 8,1919.

i) y l INvENToRs ATTORNEY have invented several views,

CORNELIUS VAN NOORT AND FRANK VISSER, 0F PATERSON, NEW ERSEY.

BESILIENT WHEEL.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented. Apr. s, wie.

Application led July 10, 1917. Serial No. 179,754.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that we,-CoRNEL1Us VAN Noon'r and FRANK VISSER, citizens of the United States, residing at Paterson, in the county of Passaic and State of New Jersey, certain new anduseful Im provenients in Resilient Wheels, of which f the following is a specification.

This invention relates to resilient wheels and more particularly to an improved construction for vehicle wheels whereby the ne cessity for a pneumatic tire will be obviated.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a resilient wheel of this character so constructed as to possess all of the resiliency heretofore obtained only by the use of pneumatic tires and which will be less likely to be injured and made inoperative thai are the pneumatic tires now generally use Another object of the invention is to provide novel cushioning means supporting segmental rim'sections and so associated with the component parts of the wheel as to permit the sam-.e to 'be easily and quickly assembled during construction.

A further lobject ofthe invention is the a resilient wheell which consists provision of of comparatively few parts and is simple in construction, but durable and well adapted to withstand the rough usage to which devices of this character are ordinarily subjected.

For a full description of the invention and the advantages and merits thereof, reference is to be had to the following description .and the accompanying drawings, wherein isv illustrated the preferred form of our invention, in which;

Figure 1 is affragmentary elevation of la `wheel constructed in accordance with our invention and showing portions thereof in section to fully disclose the construction.

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.. l Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 0f Fi l.

eferring to the drawing, wherein is illuslike numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the the hub 1'1s constructed in any preferred manner and has a plurality of san Acylindrical casings 2 radiating therefrom. 2 areffastened to the hub in any preferred manner and each -cured forms a part of each spoke of the wheel. The outer end' of each cylindrical casing 2 is screw threaded'to receive a coupling sleeve 3 which has one end slightly enlarged and provided with interior screw threads to engage the screw threads on the end of the casing 2. The opposite end of the coupling sleeve 3 is slightly reduced in diameter and 1s also provided with interior screw threads to receive the screw threads on the inner end of a tube 4 wh-ich also forms a part of the spoke. The outer end of the tube 4 is seto a bushing 5 which is mounted in an opening felly, as shown to advantage in Fig. 3 of the drawing, is concave'd and the openings are arranged at circumferentially spaced intervals to correspond with the end of each spoke. Each bushing 5 has an annular flange resting on the top of the felly and it will be observed that when the bushing is secured into position in the end of the tube 1, the latter will be fixed and held against displacement thus providing the necessary rigidity ,for the spoke.

Mounted within the tube and projecting in the felly 6 of the wheel. This into the casing 2 is a plunger rod 7 the inner v end of which is provided with a head 8 engaging the end of a coiled compression spring 9 which has its opposite end bearing against the hub. Theplunger rod 7 extends through the Abushing 5 and considerably beond the same as shownto advantage in igs. 1 and 3. The outer rim of the wheel consists of a lurality of segmental sections one of which 1s attached to each plunger rod and for the vpresent purposes a decriptionof one of these sections will suffice. A transversely arched late-10 which is also curved circumferential y to conform to the vcurve of the periphery of the` wheel is of a length equal to the length of one of the sections. The circumferential edges of each plate are bent inwardly beneath the plate as shown clearly in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawing and the marginal edges of the plate are then turned radially to form the flanges 11. The inwardly turned portion at each side of the plate forms a spring 12 which adds to the resiliency ofthe wheel and assists in absorb` ing shocks while the wheel is in operation. The outer end of the plunger rod 7 is attached to the flanges 11 intermediate the ends of the latter by a fastening belt 13 which is extended through the flanges and plunger rod. Suitable Washers are also interposed between the ianges and the plunger rod as shown in Fig. 3.

Surrounding the plunger rod 7, at the outer end thereof is a coiled compression spring 14: the same being incased inthe resilient rubber bumper 15. This rubber bumper is of substantially conical formation and is interposed between the felly 6 and the edges of the ianges and completely embraces this end of the plunger rod 7 .The spring 14 is preferably cast in thel rubber bumper.

It will be observed that the proximate ends of the rim sections are'slightly spaced apart thus permitting relative radial movement of the sections and, since the connection of each section to each plunger rod is through the medium of a single bolt it willj be observed that the sections Will have a tendency to rock or tilt on the fastening bolt 13 unless means is provided to prevent this movement and hold the ends of the sections in proper position. Therefore, we have provided the arcuate flat springs 16 the ends of which are fixed to the felly and to the ends of the flanges 1l. yThese springs are suiicient to hold the ends of the sections in proper relation. -v

Mounted upon the outside vface of each plate 10 is a tread or shoe 17 held in position by the clamp sections 18 xed to the plate 10.

Theyieldable connection of the sections with the tubular spokes is'such as to maintain a required rigidity and stability while at the 'same time producing suiicient s-pring action and resiliency to cause the wheel to vact in substantially the same manner as in the case of a wheel having a pneumatic tire.

From the foregoing it will be observed that a very simple and durable resilient Wheel has been provided, the details of which embody the preferred form. We desire it to be understood, however, that slight changes in the minor details of constructlon may be made Without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of thei claim hereunto appended:

A resilient Wheel comprising a felly having circumferentially spaced openings and equipped with cylindrical spokes, plunger rods extended through the openings in the felly and having their inner ends resiliently supported in the said cylindrical spokes, a rim section attached to the outer end of each plunger rod, each rim section having flanges fixed to opposite sides of the plunger rod, a tapered resilient element embracing each plunger rod at the extended end thereof between the felly and thesaid flanges, the terminals of the said rim sections bemgslightly spaced apart, and curved spring elements connecting the ends of the rim sections together and fixed to the said felly to prevent excessive tilting movement of the said rim sections on the ends of the 'said lunger rods.

In testimony whereof We a our signa- `tures in presence of two Witnesses.

CORNELIUS VAN Nooirr. FRANK vissen.

Witnesses:

- JOHN F.- EvANs, ADRIANUS VAN DEN WALL. 

